July 25 • 2019 37
jn

thought she’
d do well. Sy says, “I don’
t 
have an appropriate vocabulary. She 
was alive! She was alive!”
The next weeks and months were 
challenging. Loretta met her “lung 
sister” — Sandy from Muskegon 
received the left lung of the same 
donor. Loretta suffered side effects 
from a series of drugs. She was 
encouraged to exercise.
At the end of April, Loretta did 
what any self-respecting girl given a 
new lease on life would do. She went 
to a mall.
Soon after, Loretta’
s lung became 
infected. Sy emailed friends: “My 
honey has been given a chance to 
live. We will keep the faith.” Day 8 
post-transplant, Loretta’
s body began 
rejecting the organ. She received high 
doses of steroids. Fatigue and fluid 
retention and emotional and blood 
sugar swings followed. But, in June, 
they took their grandsons to the zoo.
After three months in Cleveland, 
they returned home to West 
Bloomfield. Nine months post-sur-
gery, Sy reported to friends, “Believe it 
or not, we still love each other and are 
still speaking — most of the time.”
On June 4, 2010, Loretta emailed 
friends: “I am home.”
Not for long. Shortness of breath, 
chest pain, headaches, fevers, other 
infections and a blood clot followed. 
Still, they celebrated their 51st anni-
versary in Cleveland on June 24. 
When the hospital heard about the 
occasion, they organized a surprise 
luncheon that was covered by the 
ABC affiliate and shown on the 6 
p.m. news. 
A year post-transplant, Sy wrote, 
“Looking back, I’
m uncertain as to 
how we survived all the ‘
oops!’
 we 
were forced to deal with that first year. 
It was more than tenacity. We couldn’
t 
give up or give in. And it was about 
‘
we.’
 No one can do this alone.”
Sy continues to play Loretta’
s pro-
fessional nudge. Exercise! Take your 
pills! What did you eat? He has done 

so for the last nine years. Years in 
which they celebrated grandchildren 
Thea, Evan and Sam’
s b’
nai mitzvahs 
and their high school graduations, 
granddaughter Melanie’
s graduation 
from U-M’
s Ross Business School, 
grandson Steven’
s wedding and 
Loretta’
s 80th surprise birthday party 
this January in Florida. 
“
And many more days we wouldn’
t 
have shared without this gift of life,” 
Sy says. “We lie low. We’
re together. 
It’
s OK.”
Sy wrote an extensive and sensitive 
journal about their medical jour-
ney that was turned into a bound 
book by their son. In it, Sy expresses 
appreciation through the Hebrew 
Shehecheyanu blessing. “Blessed are 
you, Lord our God, sovereign of the 
universe who has kept us alive, sus-
tained us and enabled us to reach this 
season.” 
Editor’
s Note: In the three years 
since this story by Franklin author 
Suzy Farbman was posted on the 
local website readthespirit.com, the 
Ziegelmans have stayed the course, 
meeting any challenges — including a 
bout of pneumonia in 2015 that dam-
aged her transplanted lung — with the 
same faith, love and perseverance that 
are hallmarks of their relationship.
“I have a lot of faith and I believe 
that helped a lot … and I believe mir-
acles happen,
” Loretta said last week 
of the nine years since her lung trans-
plant. “My family has been cheering 
me on every step of the way, and Sy 
has been wonderful. He’
s a very spe-
cial person.
”
On June 24, Sy and Loretta 
Ziegelman celebrated their 60th wed-
ding anniversary with their family: 
children Sharon Ross of Waterford, 
Daryl and Cindy Ziegelman of Walled 
Lake and Julie Ziegelman of Austin; 
grandchildren Carly and Steven Betel, 
Melanie Betel, Evan Ziegelman, Sam 
Ziegelman, Beatrix Jackman and Thea 
Jackman. They are expecting their first 
great-grandchild this month. ■

Licensed Specialists for 

Children & Adults

Dr. Nelson Hersh
Dr. Marsha Beattie
Dr. Amy Isenberg

– Nelson Hersh, DDS, MS 

– 
Marsha Beattie, DDS, MS

– 
Amy Isenberg, DDS, MS

LOVE YOUR

www.hershbeattieortho.com


On Star’
s beautiful already 
low-priced trays

24555 W. 12 MILE ROAD

248-352-7377

www.stardeli.net

$5 OFF

Expires 07/31/19. One Per Order. Not Good Holidays. 
10 Person Minimum. With this coupon.

DELIVERY AVAILABLE

“…one of America’
s finest 
carryout-only delicatessens! 
Star’
s reputation 
has never wavered!”

— Danny Raskin
STAR
DELI

Prices subject to change

COMPARE OUR LOW PRICES WITH ANY DELICATESSEN IN TOWN!

SALAD TRAY
$13.99
per 
person
per 
person 

DAIRY TRAY
$22.99

SALAD TRAY W/ LOX & CREAM CHEESE
$17.99
per 
person 

MEAT TRAY
$12.99
per 
person

Celebrate your 
summer parties with 
a Tray & our Vienna 
Hot Dogs